Rick Husband timeline

Editor's note: This story was originally published Feb. 2, 2003, in the Amarillo Globe-News special section "Final Flight"

1957: Born July 12, in Amarillo to Doug and Jane Husband. Attended Coronado and Belmar elementary schools, David Crockett Junior High School and Tascosa High School (one year). Earned pilot's license at age 17.

1975: Graduated from Amarillo High School.

1980: Graduated with bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, Texas Tech University. At Tech, he was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Texas Tech Choir and Arnold Air Society. He received the Outstanding Engineering Student Award, Texas Tech. Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

1981: Graduated from pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

1982: Assigned to F-4 training at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. Completed F-4 training. Assigned to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia to fly the F-4E.

1982: Married Evelyn June Neely on Feb. 27. They have two children, Laura and Matthew.

1985: Attended F-4 Instructor School from September through November at Homestead AFB. Assigned as an F-4E instructor pilot and academic instructor at George Air Force Base in California in December.

1986: Spoke to Tascosa students and Palo Duro High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets.

1987: Assigned in December to Edwards Air Force Base, California. Named F-4 Tactical Air Command Instructor Pilot of the Year.

1990: Received master of science degree in mechanical engineering from California State University at Fresno.

1992: Assigned to Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment at Boscombe Down, England, in June as an exchange test pilot with the Royal Air Force. At Boscombe Down, he was the Tornado GR1 and GR4 Project Pilot and served as test pilot on other aircraft.

1994: Selected as an astronaut candidate in December by NASA.

1995: Reported to Johnson Space Center in March to begin a year of training and evaluation. Upon completion, he was named the Astronaut Office representative for Advanced Projects at Johnson Space Center, working on Space Shuttle Upgrades, the Crew Return Vehicle and studies to return to the moon and travel to Mars.

1996: Delivered speech - "From Texas Tech to NASA in 1,000 Easy Steps" as the first speaker in the 1996 Halliburton Distinguished Lecture Series at Tech.

1997: Named Distinguished Engineer of the College of Engineering, Texas Tech.

1998: Visited alma mater Crockett Middle School students.

1999: Flew as pilot of space shuttle Discovery, STS-96, from May 27 - June 6. The crew performed the first docking with the International Space Station and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies in preparation for the arrival of the first crew to live on the station. Spoke on Aug. 1 at First Presbyterian Church. Returned Aug. 20-22 to Amarillo with members of his Discovery crew. Made visits to several local schools, plus other appearances.

2000: Named commander of shuttle Columbia, STS-107 research mission that would launch in January 2003 after several delays. Inducted into the AHS Sandie Hall of Fame in April. Visited Bushland schools while in Amarillo.

2003: Commands Columbia, STS-107 research mission, which ends tragically after 16 days in space.